Asian Container Shipments Lift Jacksonville Port’s Volumes

The US Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) has seen a growth of 16 percent in Asian container shipments during the first six months of the fiscal year 2016 as it moved 157,689 TEUs compared to 135,429 TEUs handled in the same period a year earlier.

According to the port authority, the Asian container trade is the fastest growing segment of its container cargo business, accounting for 33 percent of the business in the first six months of of the fiscal year, up from 31 percent a in the previous year and from just 7 percent in fiscal year 2014.

“The port has recorded an average of 28.5 percent annual growth in Asian container volumes during the past five years,” the authority said.

Furthermore, the port said that it experienced growth in other business areas as well.

The container volumes to and from Puerto Rico increased by 10 percent and the shipment of breakbulk cargoes, such as fertilizer, metals, forest products, perishables and project cargo jumped by 34 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year over the same period last year.

Jacksonville Port Authority said that, with the two harbor improvement projects which are currently underway, including the project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet, it expects to host the largest container ships calling on the U.S. East Coast.

“JAXPORT continues to invest in major growth projects including a new on-dock rail facility opening summer 2016, new 100-gauge container cranes to be operational at Blount Island in the fall and ongoing upgrades to terminal berths, docks and rail,” the authority added.